Crohn’s disease can affect any area of the gastrointestinal tract, including the small intestine and colon. Again there are areas of ulceration and inflammation in the bowel wall, but they symptoms can be different if other areas of the bowel are affected. When the small bowel is affected, there is more abdominal pain and nausea or vomiting than diarrhoea.

What is Ulcerative Colitis?

Ulcerative colitis is a disease of the large intestine (colon). There is inflammation and ulceration of the innermost lining of the bowel wall. It looks much like a burn on the inside of the bowel. Tiny open sores, or ulcers, form on the surface of the lining, where they bleed and produce pus and mucus. All this makes the colon empty frequently causing diarrhoea (sometimes with blood) and crampy abdominal pains. The inflammation usually begins in the rectum and lower colon, but it may also involve the entire colon. When ulcerative colitis affects only the lowest part of the colon (the rectum) it is called ulcerative proctitis. If the disease affects only the left side of the colon, it is called limited colitis. If it involves the entire colon it is termed pan colitis.